Automobile operator{3 s cabin

ABSTRACT

An elevated cabin is provided at the rear of a passenger automobile to separate the operator from the passenger space and to provide him with an all-around view. The cabin may be part of the original construction of the automobile or may be made to be attached to the rear of a completed automobile.

EXPANSIBLE MOBILE HOME AND FITTINGS THEREFORE In the past, variousmobile home structures have been provided with compact arrangementstherein to facilitate proper housing of the users. One of the basicproblems with these units is their size limitation.

Applicant has provided herein a unit which is illustrated as a portionof a self-propelled mobile home, but which obviously may be included inany mobile home structure which unit includes a pair of extensiblecompartment devices normally arranged for transportation in collapsedposition within the main carrier body of the home structure and whichare laterally extensible therefrom when the home structure is parked toprovide an increased living space area within the mobile home.

In order to accomplish applicant's laterally extensible portion a meansmust be provided for easily shifting the compartment areas into and outof retracted or collapsed position. Applicant accomplishes thisretraction and expansion through a connecting device which moves theexpandable unit from the main body. Naturally during this moving andduring the expansion situation it is necessary to properly sealtheexpansive section to the main body unit and applicant accomplishesthis through sealing means provided in the main body unit which aredesigned to seal about the exterior of the expansion section.

It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a mobilehome unit or the like having laterally extensible portions thereon whichwhen expanded position will provide an area of increased width withinthe mobile unit.

It is a further object of appliants invention to provide a mobile homeunit or the like having a laterally extensible compartmented areaarranged on at least one side thereof which will, when shifted intoextended position provide a unit which is completely sealed about theexterior thereof and with the mating surfaces of the main body of theunit.

It is a further object of the applicants invention to provide fittingsfor a mobile home unit or the like which will be adaptable and shiftableto permit shifting and modification of the same from a seatingarrangement to a bed arrangement.

It is a further object of the applicants invention to provide fittingsfor a mobile home unit which in a first position will provide a seatingarrangement and which in another of the variable positions will providea plurality of bedding positions.

These and other objects and advantages of may invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like references characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a mobile home incorporating the conceptsof the applicant's invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG.1 illustrating the unit in expanded position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken through one of the expanded sectionsof applicants expandable compartment;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the floor section of the unit in expandedposition with portions removed to. illustrate the substructure thereof;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 5-5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 6-6 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 7is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the sleepingaccommodations in one particular form;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating a second form of thesleeping accommodations; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the expandable portion of the unit inlaterally expanded position.

In accordance'iwith the accompanying drawings a mobile home generallydesignated 10 is illustrated embodying the concepts of the applicant'sinvention and the mobile home as illustrated includes. a self-poweredvehicle having a lower frame section 11 supported by ground engagingwheels 12-12. The laterally extending and extendable section provided byapplicant is generally designated 13 and as illustrated is arrangedintermediate the ends of the vehicle although it should be obvious thatthe extendable unit could be arranged at any point along the length ofthe vehicle Jill.

The main vehicle 10 is provided with a framework section including abase portion 14 which base includes longitudinally extending stringers15-15 arranged in parallel relation along the length of the unit andthese stringers are provided on the chassis 11 of the unit 10.Upstanding sidewalls 17 extend the length of the unit and normally, asshould be well understood, the walls, along with front and rear walls,will provide a complete enclosure for the unit. The expandable deviceprovided by applicant 13 is arranged to be received into an aperture 18defined in the sidewalls 17 and a framed opening which includes an upperstringer member 19 and proper side supports to thoroughly frame theaperture 18 are provided with a bottom framing member 20 completing theaperture. A seal member 21 to completely circumscn'be the passage 18 isprovided and this seal is obviously arranged to seal against theexterior surfaces of the extendable portion 13.

In the particular form shown and as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3the body unit 10 is provided with a top 22 and a base or floor 23. Theinterior of the unit 10 is lined at the top 22 and the floor 23 with afibrous material 24 which is particularly illustrated in FIG. 3 extendsacross the ceiling 22 and floor 23 extends respectively upwardly anddownwardly across and about the portions 19-2ll which frame the aperture18. This extension is illustrated as 24a and 25a respectively. Thisresilient material may be a carpeting material although it should beobvious that many other suitable fibers would provide this samefunction.

As previously mentioned the frame structure includes the longitudinalstringers 15-16 and a plurality of transversely arranged joists 27-27are provided laterally across the frame of the unit for sufficientstrength. The base for the extensible members 13 includes laterallyextending frame elements 28-28 which are captured for sliding relationbetween the chassis or lower support frame 11 and the flooring portion23. These members are tied at their end sections with a longitudinallyextending stringer 29 and a positioning device such as a telescopingscrew section 30 is provided with a first stationary portion 31 and athreaded extendable portion 32 which engages the longitudinal stringer29 with means on the outer end 33 thereof to afford the attachment of alever or crank thereto. It should be obvious that many means may beprovided to attain thev rotation of the threaded element 32 such as apower driven drill or a simple bell crank device which is manuallyoperated. Allof the positioning power for the extensions 13 then islocated in the lower most section of the extensible portion 13 and asparticularly illustrated in FIG. 3 the stationary telescoping portion 31may include a threaded portion 34 with the remainder thereof 35 being asimple housing tube to properly retain the threaded element 32 thereinwhen the same is inserted through the threaded portion 34. The means forshifting this device naturally may take many forms and applicant hasillustrated the form which he has found to be most successful inproperly and simply shifting the unit 13 into the laterally extendedposition.

The unit 13 includes a base section 40 having one end thereof 40asecured to the longitudinally extending stringer 29 with the other endthereof mounted upon a floor engaging wheel 42 such that as the section13 is moved inwardly and outwardly a first point of contact will beprovided interiorly of the unit 10 through the floor wheel 42. Unit 13is provided with upstanding sidewalls 43 and a top portion 44. Naturallywindows or the like 65 may be provided'through any of the sidewalls asdesired. A second point of contact is provided against the ceiling 22and this point of contact is provided through a support strut 45engaging the inner end of the top supporting beam 44 with a ceilingcontacting wheel -17 pivotally mounted thereon to engage with theceiling 22 and more particularly tb ride against the aforementionedfibrous surface 24 covering the ceiling 22.

PATENIEU MARSOIBTI 3,572,810

IN'VENTOR WALTER W ARAKELIAN BY ATTORNEYS AUTOMOBILE OPERATORS CABINThis invention relates to a cabin to'be constructed at the rear of anautomobile of a type having a closed body, or to be attached at the rearof a closed car body so as to extend above the roof of the body,separating the operator in the cabin from the occupants of the passengerspace in the body, and providing an all-around view for the operator.

The invention is chiefly for the benefit of the operators of taxicabs.There have been frequent instances of holdups of taxi drivers bypassengers. By providing a separate compartment for the operator, he isgiven protection from the occupants of the passenger space. By elevatingthe cabin so that it extends somewhat above the roof level of thevehicle, the driver is given a more commanding view of traffic whichhelps in guiding the car through traffic and avoiding collisions. Italso may serve as a conspicuous indication that the vehicle offerstransportation for hire.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference may be hadto the following description of an embodiment thereof, and to thedrawing, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an. automobile embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cabin as a separate unit before beingattached to an automobile body; and

H6. 3 is a partial elevational view of a vehicle embodying theinvention, a portion of the cabin wall being broken away to show theinterior.

in FIG. 1 a cabin is shown as mounted on and secured to the body 11 of afour-door sedan 12 but it can be made to fit on other types of closedbodies of automobiles. In the case of automobiles having a trunk in therear, as many models do, the cover of the trunk is removed and the cabinis mounted over the trunk cavity the bottom of which can serve as thefloor of the cabin. Access to the cabin is had through a door 14 at therear thereof. For convenience a suitable seat 16 for the operator may bemounted on the interior of the door 14. A steering wheel 18 and motorcontrols are built into the forward wall of the cabin and are connectedoperatively to the customary control mechanisms by hydraulic or electricmeans (not shown). For collecting fares an opening through the rear wallof the car body and the forward wall of the cabin is provided, suitableclosure means 20 being mounted in the opening. Voice communicationbetween the compartments may be had by a simple intercom (not shown).Means (not shown) may also be provided for opening, closing, locking andunlocking the vehicle doors 22 under the control of the operator in thecabin 110.

The cabin extends above the level of the top of the body H, the upperportion of the cabin being provided with front, side and rear windows24, 26, 28, giving the operator an all-around view over the top of thebody. This vantage point enables the operator to guide the vehicle moreeasily through traffic and to spot prospective fares. The separation ofthe operator from the passenger space protects him from attemptedholdups, and provides additional seating for passengers in the body 11.

I claim:

1. A compartment for an operator of an automobile of the type having aclosed body comprising a cabin adapted to be inserted within the trunkcavity of the automobile and secured to the body, said cabin including aforward wall, a rearward wall, sidewalls and a roof, said forward wallhaving upper and lower portions, said upper portion being inclined in adownward and forward direction with respect to the forward edge of saidroof, said lower portion being inclined in a downward and rearwarddirection with respect to the forward edge of said roof, the upper edgeof said lower portion being rearward of the lower edge of said upperportion, a member operatively connected between the upper edge of saidlower portion and the lower edge of said upper portion, said memberdefining flange means adapted for engagement with the rearward margin ofthe roof of the automobile, said cabin extending above the roof of theautomobile.

2. The compartment as claimed in claim 1 including steering wheel andmotor controls mounted to said forward wall and operatively connected tothe controls for operating the automobile.

3. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 including a door, said rearwall formed with an opening defining an entrance way for access to saidcabin, said door hinged to one side of said opening, said cabin definingan enclosed compartment when said door is closed.

4. The compartment as claimed in claim 3 including a seat for theoperator mounted to said door.

5. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 including means forcommunication between the automobile interior and the interior of saidcabin.

6. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 wherein windows are provided inthe forward, rear, and sidewalls of said cabin.

1. A compartment for an operator of an automobile of the type having aclosed body comprising a cabin adapted to be inserted within the trunkcAvity of the automobile and secured to the body, said cabin including aforward wall, a rearward wall, sidewalls and a roof, said forward wallhaving upper and lower portions, said upper portion being inclined in adownward and forward direction with respect to the forward edge of saidroof, said lower portion being inclined in a downward and rearwarddirection with respect to the forward edge of said roof, the upper edgeof said lower portion being rearward of the lower edge of said upperportion, a member operatively connected between the upper edge of saidlower portion and the lower edge of said upper portion, said memberdefining flange means adapted for engagement with the rearward margin ofthe roof of the automobile, said cabin extending above the roof of theautomobile.
 2. The compartment as claimed in claim 1 including steeringwheel and motor controls mounted to said forward wall and operativelyconnected to the controls for operating the automobile.
 3. Thecompartment as claimed in claim 2 including a door, said rear wallformed with an opening defining an entrance way for access to saidcabin, said door hinged to one side of said opening, said cabin definingan enclosed compartment when said door is closed.
 4. The compartment asclaimed in claim 3 including a seat for the operator mounted to saiddoor.
 5. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 including means forcommunication between the automobile interior and the interior of saidcabin.
 6. The compartment as claimed in claim 2 wherein windows areprovided in the forward, rear, and sidewalls of said cabin.